My Curious Signature

“What is the meaning behind your curious signature?”

I get asked this question enough to dedicate a space on my blog to answer it. You’re invited to grab your favorite cup of coffee (don’t forget some chocolate!) and take a walk with me down memory lane.

“What is the meaning behind your curious signature?”

It must have been the fall of 1999. I had a friend who moved to Michigan; we had both learned how to use this new concept called, e-mail. Daily, we would take the time to write to each. We shared everything from the big moments to the ordinary details of what the Lord was doing in our hearts and our homes. I enjoyed those precious chats. We talked about everything. Fun, serious, political even educational conversations, spurring each other on in our homeschooling adventures. Often, we signed our letters with different signatures. Each signature would represent the “mood” for the day. For example, one day I might sign my name as, “A Handmaiden Hiding in Him.” Another day I might sign as, “A Thankful Servant” and so forth.

We did this for months.

One day, as I finished up a letter, my Joe walked into the room and began reading over my shoulder. In a teasing gesture, I signed my name as Mrs. Joseph Wood. To my surprise, Joe’s face lit up! He began to reminisce about his childhood. Telling me about seeing his Momma get letters and magazines in the mail after his father’s death and they were always signed, Mrs. Bernard Wood.

“Oh how happy I am that you would want to use my name,” he told me.

I will never forget his joy. I can still remember the way he hugged me and the smile that remained on his face for such a long time. All because of a silly signature. I was honestly surprised. It was evident to me that his mother’s signature had inspired him.

At that moment, I decided I would forever change my signature.

In honor of my Joe, I have been Mrs. Joseph Wood ever since that day.

Oh, there have been times when I started to feel nervous about my decision. In those moments, the Lord would always give me peace to bless Joe when it’s in my power to do so. Friends, somehow in some peculiar way the Lord uses this curious signature to bless Joe.